31w5d - Baby Shower Recap

Yesterday was my baby shower and it was totally fun! I loved getting to see all my family and friends and the chance to get out of the house if only for a few hours. I just want to thank my mom, Sam and Jennifer for throwing such a great shower and thanks to everyone who came and for all the wonderful baby stuff!!! We got a ton of diapers and wipes and clothes! So many teeny tiny little outfits that I can't to put on Bri! I hope she likes pink lol.



The games were a hoot too! Even though the "guess mommy's tummy size" game made me feel huge and fat lol. But I got several jars of baby food left over from the guess the food in the jar game. And speaking of food, yumm! Sam my BFF (that's me and her in the pic below) made yummy chocolate cupcakes and they were totally adorable! And Jenn made punch with sherbert yumm!



I have so many things I want to put together too. My parents got us the stroller/car seat travel system and I can't wait to see it together. They also got us the matching high chair and a bouncy seat. Now I have 2 bouncy seats (one was a Christmas gift from Sam) so I'll be able to leave one at my parents' house for when they watch her. Now I am sad though because we have all this wonderful stuff and I can't get out of bed to put stuff away and organize or play with any of it. I did however get my breast pump out this morning and examined it... looks scary! Not looking forward to pumping! So this week I am going to write out my thank you notes which I will have plenty of time for.

After the shower I was totally exhausted though! It's amazing how much muscle tone and energy I have lost in the last 4 weeks! And whoa has my lung capacity diminished! I basically just crashed on the couch after the shower and waited for dinner (Jason made chicken marsala, yumm!!) and then went to bed after eating. I'm not sure how I am going to survive labor when I'm so weak! Thank god Jason is going to be home with me for the first week after she's born! And my mom is going to take off the 2nd week and stay with me to help out. Hopefully 2 weeks will be enough time to let me regain some lost muscle and energy...

31w4d - Baby Shower Day!

Today is my baby shower and I'm so excited! It's been an exciting weekend already and I still have my shower to look forward too!

Yesterday my mom, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, niece, BFF and her boyfriend all came to visit and help set up for the shower. It was wonderful to have company and see everyone! And my mom let me walk over to our condo clubhouse (where the shower is going to be) and watch her decorate it. I know to the average person who is allowed to leave their house that may not hold the excitement it did for me but it was just nice to see new surroundings.

I already got to open 2 gifts - one from a friend a work, Chas, and one from Anna; they can't make it to the shower today and I will miss them. Thanks ladies, love love love the gifts, especially the teeny tiny little onesies!!! And Jennifer my sis-in-law brought me a box of baby stuff that was Tara's (my niece) with clothes and bottles and diapers and all sorts of goodies in it.

After everyone left, Jason made home made beef stroganoff and then after dinner he put together the co-sleeper that we ordered. It was very humorous too because, as a man, he refused to read the directions before diving into the project, and he couldn't figure out one part of it. So I had to read the directions to him (even though he didn't ask me too) and he finally got it all together. He was so cute when he finished it because he tested it out by laying in it himself. I think he is a little over the weight limit for it but it held him so I have faith it will hold our little sweat pea.

I will post pics and details of the shower tomorrow. I am so excited!!!

31w2d - Time for a little fun!

As you have probably read by now, my baby shower is this Sunday, and I'm totally excited about it. I feel like I have some real fun in my future! Today I have a project to work on for the shower which will occupy me for a while. And there's a Eureka marathon on the SciFi channel which is awesome! And I have a bed rest buddy today - my husband is off!

Tomorrow my mom and aunt are coming over to start setting up for the shower. My husband and I live in a condo/townhouse and we have rented out the clubhouse for the shower. It's literally right across from our front door but the prospect of seeing new surroundings makes me happy. So they are going to come decorate it and stock the fridge with a sandwich tray and cheese ball and get it all set up for Sunday. I know I'm not allowed to help with the decorating or anything but I figured I could at least go over to the clubhouse and get comfy in one of the big chairs and watch them work lol. If they'll let me...

And then Sunday is the big day! I've been cheating and checking out my registries online and seeing what items have been purchased already. Jason always yells at me when he catches me looking because he says it isn't fair. But since I registered for the items we need and want, I can already guess what is going to be bought for me so what does it hurt to take a little peak from time to time. It's going to be great to get some baby stuff, but I know I'm going to be sad that I can't put it all away and get the nursery set up. I guess I'll have to wait for another 3 weeks to do that, and it'll be fun when I finally get to do it!

So Sunday morning my mom is going to come over and help me fix my hair and get ready. I was hoping it would be a little warmer when we had the shower so I could wear this cute maternity dress I bought way back when I could still go shopping (and have only worn once) but I guess I'll wear jeans... I can't wait to get all dressed up cute like a normal pregnant woman! What the heck, maybe I'll wear the dress after all. I mean, I only have to walk across the side walk a few feet then I'll be back inside where its warm right?

I think Bri is excited about the weekend of excitement too because she is still moving around like crazy! It's totally awesome too because I know how to make her move now. If I read or sing to her, she'll start to move. If I rub my belly, she moves. When my kitties lay near me and purr, she moves. I think she's anxious to get out and start living! But that's not surprising because if she's anything like me, she isn't going to like sitting still for long! It's so bizarre to think that in just a few weeks, she's going to be here! And I'm going to be a mom! I'm so excited but at the same time, still a little scared. Newborns just seem to fragile and breakable and we're going to have one soon! We're going to be responsible for another human life that can't take care of itself! The thought fills me with so many different emotions that I just feel like I may explode! But I can't wait! Bri and I are going to have so much fun when she is here! We can go for walks in the park and I can take her shopping and take her to work to show her off to everyone...

I better get started on my project for the shower. I'll post pics of it when I finish.

31w1d - Weekly outing to my OB

I get to leave the house today for my weekly OB appointment. I was hoping for warmer weather and maybe a chance to see the sun but oh well, it's more snow for me blah. Feeling a little nervous again. She can't hospitalize me today because my shower is Sunday! So everyone say a little prayer for me and cross your fingers. I've got my bags packed though, just in case...

Back from the doctor and the outside world. It was a good appointment yay!! My cervix has not dilated any further and my doctor said it was holding steady. She did say that it is already about 90% effaced though so when I do go into labor it won't take long for me to dilate and actually have the baby. She said she usually won't admit a patient until they are 4 or 5 cm dilated but with me, if I hit 2 or 3 she is going to keep me. And at my next appointment next week I will be 32 weeks and she said she may start letting me up and about a little more then. She seems to think I will make it very close to my due date. I'm starting to take bets - I say I'll have her around the 35 week mark. Jason says 37. Either way, I think Bri is anxious to come out! When the doctor went to put the Doppler on my belly today my whole belly did the wave and she had a hard time finding her heartbeat because she was like doing somersaults in there! I was counting kicks last night, and you're supposed to be able to feel 10 kicks in an hour but it only took 6 minutes to feel 10 kicks! So she's doing good! And next Thursday we go for a fetal growth ultrasound too so we'll get to see her again!

One funny thing is that I have only gained half a pound since my appointment last week which is good since I've been on bed rest and feel like I've been eating alot! That means I can eat alot of cupcakes at my shower Sunday and not feel guilty! But woot for Sunday! I'm so excited that I'm still pregnant for my shower and that I can actually attend! This will be an exciting weekend for me and that's good because we all know I need a little excitement right now!

31 Weeks!!! Half way there!

As of today I have been on bed rest for 3 weeks and I have 3 more weeks to go so I'm half way there! And it's my 31 week milestone today! Tomorrow is my OB appointment so I get to leave the house for a little while, thank god. I just hope everything goes good tomorrow and I get to come back home afterwards. But I'm not as nervous about my appointment this week as I was last week. I guess I just feel good about everything this week. I haven't had any more contractions this week, no bleeding, and the little punkin is always moving in there! I'm still thinking long and thick thoughts and directing them towards my cervix though. I'm sure I'll be more nervous in the morning as I get ready to go but as of now I'm still relatively calm.

I'm getting super excited about my shower this weekend too. My BFF Sam is making cupcakes and my mom is coming down Saturday to decorate the condo clubhouse. My sis-in-law and mother-in-law are coming up from Louisville yay! It'll be so great to see people and get out of the house for a little while!

I got an email today that our Arm's Reach co-sleeper we ordered has shipped and that's awesome news! It'll give Jason something to put together when it gets here. Below is a pic of the one we ordered. It's convertible to a free standing bassinet and then to a play pen. It was kind of expensive but since I am going to breast feed I thought it would be so much easier to have Bri right there next to me when I'm sleeping so we won't have to really wake up completely for feedings. And she'll be safe in her own little sleeping area where we can't roll on top of her or anything. We'll migrate her to her crib in the nursery after a few months though.



Jason surprised me with goodies last night! He got me some Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream and some Starbucks Hot Chocolate ice cream. He also got me some Little Debbie Triple Chocolate Fudge Cakes. He's still worried about my lack of appetite and is trying to fatten me up still lol. He also made the best dinner last night. Baked lemon pepper cod, home made scalloped potatoes and corn, yumm!!! He's the best ever!!!

So I'll post again tomorrow after my appointment. Everyone think good thoughts for me and Bri!

30w6d - Feeling icky!

I'll start with the good stuff... tomorrow is the 31 week milestone, yay! Just 3 more weeks of bed rest woohoo! I'm half way there and feeling good that I've made it through the last 3 weeks. Yesterday I bought 4 tickets to the Jimmy Buffett concert for me, Sam, Anna and Natalie, yay! I just hope I am able to go since the concert is May 17 and my due date is April 28 (assuming I make it to my due date but I'm being optimistic). If I am able to go, I hope I have lost the baby weight so I can wear a coconut bra and grass skirt but we'll see.

Now the bad stuff... I finished my antibiotic yesterday and still feel like crap! Yesterday was one of those days when you can't quit sneezing and you want to put a cork in your nostrils to stop the dripping. Glad mom bought me those kleenex with lotion, my nose is very greatful! This morning I woke up with a sore throat again and my ears are all full and it sounds like I'm in a tunnel. So much for the tamiflu! I keep taking my temperature to make sure I don't have a fever and so far I'm good. But I'm so tired that it feels like I just ran a marathon and I have been napping all day!

I also have some little feet or hands lodged under my rib cage, at least that's how it feels. It's hard to take a deep breath or catch my breath and every once in a while I feel a little flutter up there. I can only imagine how cramped it must be in there, but take it easy on mommy's ribs and lungs please Bri! She is going to be stubborn just like me, I just know it! And while we're on the subject of movement inside my bump, what's with the hiccups? I feel so bad for my little punkin cuz she seems to have them daily and when she does, they last for a really long time! I just hope that they aren't as annoying in utero as they are when you're out! Jason actually felt them last night they were so strong. But I still love to feel her movin in there. It reminds me of why I am doing all of this.

30w5d - People that make me happy

Yesterday ended up being a good day, and today seems to be good so far too. That being the case, I want to highight some things that people have done for me while on bed rest that have made me happy and have helped me to endure my house arrest...

1.) Jason - everything my loving husband has done has been for me and has made me happy. The cooking and cleaning and grocery shopping and taking care of the kitties. The trips to and from the hospital, even in the snow, just to be with me. The constant strength he has shown through all of this. Being my shoulder to cry on when I have bad days and knowing just the right ways to cheer me up. The Super Mario Brothers game he bought me for the Wii to keep me busy in my boredom. The little things, like bringing me home chocolate milk and snacks I like without me asking for them. Buying me shampoo and conditioner when I was in the hospital complaining about horrible I looked. Cuddling with me every night and rubbing my belly. And of course, the wonderful Valentine's gift he brought me to the hospital. I honestly couldn't make it through any of this without him and I want him to know how important he is to me and how much more I love him each day.



2.) My mom - She has gone out of her way to visit me at home and in the hospital. She drove to Cincinnati to spend the night with me in the hospital when I was scared and alone. She kept me company on my dark days and brought me good tissues with lotion when I couldn't stop crying. She calls me daily to check on me and make sure I am okay and don't need anything. She has also helped me so much that without her I don't know if I could have gotten this far. And she got me a super cozy blanket and pillow to cuddle up with on the couch.

3.) My dad - He texts me everyday to make sure I am not getting to bored or am too lonely. He too has been to visit me and keep me company with mom both in the hospital and at home. He calls me all the time to make sure I am okay. And he too got me a wonderful Valentine's present that will go in the nursery room.



4.) My Brianne - Feeling her kick and punch and move in my belly is the best feeling there is, even though it does actually hurt some time. Knowing that she's there is the motivation and inspiration I need. In the hospital, they would put me on the monitor twice a day and hearing her heartbeat was the most comforting sound a mother could hear. I even recorded the sound on my cell phone so I can hear it anytime I need to be reassured.

5.) Samantha, my BFF - She visited me in the hospital and at home. She brought me a goodie bag in the hospital with magazines and a puzzle book, hand sanitizer, a nail file and a teddy bear to cuddle. When she visited me at home, she brought me a candy bar because she knew I hadn't been eating well and brought me a Teach Yourself to Knit kit. She's making cupcakes for my shower next weekend and since she was on bed rest after her surgery, she knew just the right things to say and do to make me feel better. Thanks Sam!



6.) Jolie - For coming to visit and have dinner with us. She checks on me daily also and even though she has her own problems right now, she always makes me feel important and loved.

7.) My kitties - Orion and Aurora seem to know when I'm sad or sick and they have been my little cuddle buddies through this. Just having them curled up at my feet makes me feel better. Here is Orion, aka Mr. Kitty, aka Fat Boy.



8.) Jennifer, My sis-in-law - She calls me all the time and emails me to check on me. She just had a baby and has been there for all my stupid questions and fears that I need help with.

9.) All my co-workers and friends not mentioned - Thanks for asking about me and the emails and prayers. I appreciate all of it!